Bucket-operating mechanism for concrete distributors



Dec. 3, 1929 J. c. LuKAcHowc 38,012

BUCKET OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE DISTRIBUTORS Filed Feb.'23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HI'IIIIIIIHIIIIIIUU MCMM 33x Qbtcwmwn; v

Dec. 3, 1929. .1. c. LUKACHOVIC BUCKET OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE DISTRIBUTORS Filed Feb. 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z m W M a Gum/mug Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE aosnrn c. LUKACHOVIG, or DUNELLEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T nANsoMn con- CRETE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PLAINFIELID, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BUCKET-OPERATING- MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE DISTRIBUTORS Application filed February 23, 1928.

This invention relates in general to concrete distributing apparatus and more particularly to that type of device wherein freshly mined concrete is received from a mixer and conveyed in a bucket or receptacle adapted for lateral travel. Mixing and distributing plants of this character are commenly employed where the exigencies of the construction work require, as for example in road paving.

In a combined mixing and placing unit of the type in question, a boom or track normally entends away from the mixer frame over the work, upon which a bucket travels conve i11 the concrete from the mixer and dumping same at the point of placement. Tripping mechanisms for such buckets are commonly employed enabling discharge of the concrete at successive points beneath the boom as the work progresses.

The present improvements have as their primary object, among others, the provision of an improved tripping mechanism for re leasing such bucket contents, or other loads. Another object is to provide an improved tripping mechanism whichmay be actuated at any desired point along the boom at the will of the operator and may be automatically normalized for a subsequent operation without the necessity of manual attention.

Other objects and applications of the pres ent improvements will be apparent to those skilled in the art; the accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment, in which-- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device embodying the present improvements shown in connection with a concreteminer;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the boom and bucket and related parts embodying the improvements; y t

Fig. 3 is an end view, partlyin section, of the bucket carriage and boom showing the relation of parts in the charging position of the bucket (not shown).

Fig. 4: is a plan view of a detail.

Referring to the drawings, the frame A, having suitable traction means (not shown), supports the mixer B and discharge chute C therefor. Conveniently mounted on said frame and adjacent said chute is a boom 5,

Serial No. 256,137.

having pivotal connections with said frame, affording universal movement thereof. Suitable power means (not shown) is provided for operating the boom, cables, bucket, etc. The boom may be of any desired construction although preferably composed of channel members (5 and 7, back to back, embracing sheaves 8 and 9 mounted adjacent opposite ends thereof. Said channels may be suitably braced, reinforced or otherwise inter connected throughout their length to afford a more rugged and sturdy construction; As illustrated in Fig. 3, the channels 6 and 7 face away from one another thereby providing tracks and housings upon which rollers or wheels 10 and 11 travel. Obviously said wheels or traction means are adapt ed for travel on other surfaces of said boom, the illustrated construction, however, presenting a compact and protected structure.

Suitably suspended .from the axles of the traction wheels 10 and 11, .isa bucket-carriage or frame 12, which supportsfan open top dump vessel or bucket 13 having doors 141, pivotally mounted atthe bottom thereof for gravity opening. Although any type of releasable conveying means may be supportcd from said carriage 12, that illustrated and preferably employed is of the type disclosed in the patent to Faber No. 1,526,970 of. February 17, 1925. The traction'means, carriage and bucket are moved in and out along the boom by means of a cable 15 which is actuated under the control of an operator adjacent the mixed, by any suitable connection with the power means (not shown). This cable is connected at one end 16 to carriage l2 and thence passes over sheave 8 at the forward end of the boom, back along said boom, around sheave 9 and/or a power drum, to the opposite end of carriage 12, where it is connected thereto at 17. The particular manner ofimparting movement to cable 15 is immaterial to the present improvements.

The carriage or frame 12 may be of any form, that illustrated being of cradle form comprising two quadrilateral side frames composed of uprights 18 and 20 connected by suitable cross braces 19 and 19. These reetangular frames may be cast,or fabricated by riveting or welding. The upper forward portions of these frames are provided with short axles 21 on which are ournalled rollers 11, being freely rotatable thereon. Similar axles 22. are provided on the upper rear portions of the framesupon which are journalled wheels or rollers 10, the latter being freely rotatable on said axles. As illustrated the rollers and mounting therefor, extend from the carriage sides toward the boom so that said rollers ride in channels 6 and7 thereof. Suitable cross braces pass beneath the boom, and complete the carriage 12 by uniting the side frames. It is thus seen that the carriage is supported from traction Wheels 10 and 11, four such wheels being employed, a wheel 10 and ll being mounted for travel in each channel. The carriage or frame 12 is thus rigidly supported for freedom of movement along the boom 5, a rugged and sturdy construction being afforded by the provision of the four rollers at spaced points on the carriage.

A rotatable shaft 23 is suitably mounted on the frame or carriage 12, disposed laterally thereof and, as illustrated, extends through suitable bearings in the side frames, one end of said shaft being provided with a retaining means 24, the opposite end, which extends a substantial distance beyond its side frame, having a sleeve keyed to or otherwise operatively connected therewith. Said sleeve has integral therewith, a radially extending arm or dog 25 terminating in a friction roller or bearing surface 26.

. The doors 14 of the bucket 13, supported bycarriage 12 are controlled by any convenient latch or releasable mechanism, the form illustrated being preferred, comprising a toggle arrangement .similar to that set forth in the aforementioned patent. Said latch mechanism or toggle means comprises a radial arm 27 keyed. or otherwise connected toshaft for receiving rotary movement therefrom. The outer .end of said arm 27 is pivot-ally con nected at 27 with'the end of link 28, which latter terminates ina boss 29 slidable on shaft is past-deadcent-er, in the present illustration to the left of pivot 23, link 28 and shaft 30 function to hold doors 14 closed,spring 31 however constantly urging boss 29 downward. Ann 27 is. mounted on shaft 23, so that when the toggle is in the full line position ,(see Fig.2) just described dog 25 willbe horizontally disposed, as shown in full lines in Fig.2.

A power arm or lever 36 for imparting rotation to shaft 23 and releasing the latch mechanism is also rigidly connected to 1'0- tatable shaft 23. This lever may be integral with arm 27, the two forming a bell-crank lever, or it may be independent of said arm, the construction being immaterial so long as arm 27 and lever 36 are keyed to or otherwise opcratively connected with the rotatable shaft 23 and mounted in definite relation with respect to one another. The lever 36, shown in full lines in Fig. 2, has at its free end an adjustable friction element or contact button 37 for withstanding wear. As hereinbefore described, arms 25, 27 and 36 are all rigidly mounted on rotatable shaft- 23, radiating therefrom and are always in the same relative position to one another as illustrated in the loaded position of the bucket shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Obviously when arm 36 is urged in a clockwise direction, shaft 23, dog 25, arms 27 and 28 will rotate in the same direction, thereby throwing pivot 27 past dead center, to the right, breaking the toggleand allowing doors 14 to fall by gravity, thus discharging the bucket. \Vhen the latch mechanism has thus been released, the parts thereof will assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. In this position, dog 25 is disposed vertically and slightly to the right of the vertical axis of shaft 23. It is appar out that movement of dog 25 in a counter clockwise direction back to its normal horizontal (full line) position, will move the elements of the latch mechanism in a similar arc and restore them to normal or bucket loading position, with the attendant closing of doors 14 and setting of the toggle.

Means independent of the above described releasing mechanism is provided on the carriage and is adapted to be energized under predetermined conditions, by an energized means, later described. This energizable means, for imparting energy to the latch mechanism for releasin same, comprises a trip means or pawl 38 loosely mounted, adjacent its axis, on rod 39 of the carriage 12. Referring to Fig. 3, a combined torsion and compression spring 40 is mounted on rod 39, one end of said spring being anchored in carriage frame 12, the other end anchored in or contacting pawl 38. The function of this spring is apparent, the arrangement being such that said spring constantly urges pawl 38 along rod 39, away from the carriage side (see Fig. 3) and also urges said pawl in a counter clockwise direction about said rod 39. Any suitable stop means for limiting the longitudinal movement of pawl 38 on rod 39 may be provided. In the illustrated embodiment, a sleeve 39 telescopes rod 39 and terminates adjacent the plane of arm 36, the spring 40 resiliently holding pawl 38 against the end of said sleeve, so

masses that the pawl will normally be in alignment with arm 36 and cam 44.

That linger 41 of the pawl 38, normally below pivot 39 is somewhat larger in cross section than linger 42, see Fig. 3. The pawl 38 is so positioned on the carriage that finger 41 is in alignment and contacting. with button 37, the latter, during the set position of the latch mechanism forming a temporary stop preventing counterclockwise movement of said pawl by spring 40. In this position, shown in full lines in Fig;2,.the finger 42 extends above the lower limits of boom and terminates approximately midway between said lower limit of the boom and the axis of roller 10. It is obvious that energy applied to linger 42 of pawl 38 urging same in a counterclockwise direction about fulcrum 39, and sufiicient to overcome the pull of toggle spring 31, will energize power arm 36 through finger 41, and throw the latch mechanism. Thisfunction having been performed, and the stop 37 having been removed, pawl 38 will continue to rotate, under the urge of spr1ng40, in a counterclockwise direction, but is stopped in this travel at dottedline position b by stop 43 on the carriage.

An energized means forintermittently imparting energy to pawl38is provided on the tractionmeans of carriage 12. This feature comprises a double cam 44 mounted on the outer face of roller or wheel 10. Saidcam may be cast integral with'said roller or may be rigidly SQCUYQCl-lZOOl operatively connected therewith in. any desired manner, solonglas it receives rotary movement from roller 10. Obviously thecam 44 maywhave four arms, or a ratchet may be employed, if desired. The cam is illustrated as slightly less in diameter than wheel and as seen in Fig. 3 is in alignment with pawl 38 and arm The finger 42 ofpawl 38, as describechextends above the lower limits of b0om 5 and is disposed in the path of cam 44, so that the latter when rotating will strike finger, 42-.

.5 comprises an angle plate rigidly secured'to the upper surface of the boom, extending laterally therefrom and thence downwardly (see Fig. 3) along the boomxand suitably spacedtherefrom. Ample clearance for the carriage 12 to pass through this angle plate is provided, however, thedownwardly extending leg of cam 45 is disposed in the path of dog and ro-llcr26 of the latch mechanism. The forward portion of thisleg is formed with, an inclinedjsurface. whereby upon travel ofthe open bucket past said cam, the now vertically disposed arm; 25 and roller 26 will meet saidsurface 45,continued travel of the carriage causingv roller 26 to ride on incline 45", thereby imparting couir terclockwise rotation to arm 25- until it reaches normal horizontal position. Obviously thismovement of ar m 25 resets or normalizes the latch mechanism, with the attendant closing of doors 14, while power arm 36 is again raised to energi zable position.

The cam 46 is likewise an angle plate rigidly secured to channel 6 of boom 5. Thiscam is also positioned so as not to interfere with the travelof carriage 12. However,its hori zontal portion having aninclined surface46 at its forwardend is located inthe path ofthe pawl 38. As the carriage travels pastsaid cam, pawl 38 is urged,againstthe action of spring 40, toward the side of the carriage. This throws the pawl .38" to the full line posi tionin Fig. 3; whereit is out of the path of travel of the rotatingcam44 on roller 10. It will be noted that cams 45and-46 are so positioned relative to one another that thelatch mechanism is reset and theipawl disabled at substantially thesame instant, so that no opportunity for premature actuation of the latch mechanism andbucket doors isafforded.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assumingthe bucket has been loaded from themixer B and chute C, the operatorcauses powerto be applied to cable 15,-wherebycarriage,12 and bucket 13 advance toward the free end of the-boom by means oftraction rollers 10 and 11-. Thepartsare inthe full line position-shown in Fig. 2, and as the carriage advances, cam 44, rotating counterclockwise with roller 10, contacts with finger 42 of pawl 38, throwing same to position a (Fig. 2). Howeveigspring 40 returns pawl 38 to neutral or full line position immediately cam 44passes. This action takes place twice with every revolution of the rollers 10 and cam44. When the bucket has reached the desired discharge point, the operator reverses the power on cable 15, causing carriage 12 to retract. With this'operation, roller 10 and cam 44 rotate clockwise the cam 44 now ongaging and forcing trip means or pawl 38 thereby forcing power arm 36 down with the attendant tripping or releasing of the latch mechanism andbucket doors. As heretofore noted, pawl 38 is limited in its movement by stop 43, and assumes position b, while the doors and latch mechanism assume the dotted line position.

Since this automatic tripping is accomplished through the energy ofthe rotating traction means, the operation may beaccomplished at any pointdesirod along theboom. It is notable that the cam 44 is energizedata'll times during. advance and reverse movement of the carriage, this jfeature being of great advantage in the event of failure to trip the latch during the initial reverse movement of the carriage from some unforeseen cause; In

the carriage willagain bring up the other end of cam 44 for accomplishing the releasing of the-latch mechanism. 5 I

' The bucket having been discharged, cable is further actuated to impart reverse movement to the carriage, which returns toward the mixerwith the parts in dotted line position (Fig. 2), and pawl 38 in position b. Upon approaching the mixer and chute for receiving a new charge, the roller 26 contacts cam and, as described, automatically resets the latch mechanism with the attendant closing of bucket doors 14. At the same time cam 46 shifts pawl 38 away from the path of the now reversely rotating cam 44 (see full line position of pawl, Fig. 3) and button 37 on arm 36 holds said pawl in neutral position (full line F ig. 2). This is the relation of parts while the bucket is being charged and any inadvertent reverse movement of the carriage would not cause the latch mechanism to be tripped due to the described disabling of pawl 3 When the bucket is again loaded the cable 15 advances the carriage toward the point oi placement. As the carriage passes from the position of cam 46, compressed spring 40 expands and urges pawl 38 again in the path of rotating c' am 44, which intermittently strikes finger 42, as described, and passes on. The mechanism is thus again automatically .set fordumping by reverse movement of the carriage at any desiredpoint;

-'It is thus seen that with the present improvements the? bucket isautomatically dumped and reset or normalized without the interposition of manual attention;

It is notable that the latch mechanism, trip v means and energized cam 44a re independent of one another, thus facilitating repair and replacement without dismantlingthe entire structure. Furthermore, the tact-thatthe energy for tripping the latch mechanism is derived directlyfroin the traction means isa featureof great advantage, since actuation of the latch niechanism'is assured in substantiallyeveryreversemovement of the carriage. The construction and arrangement of parts cooperating 'as they do with a source of energy ever present with-the moving carriage promotes greater efiiciency in the'work and conserves time which may be lost by manual ly trippingthe mechanism in the event of failure; 7 r 1 I r In mounting cam 44 on roller lO, a positive meansfor operating the trip and latch mechanism is provided. Although the present improvements have been illustrated on but one side of the carriage 12, a duplicate set of parts may be provided on both sides of said carriagejwith both rollers'lO provided with cams 44, so that when the paver is working on a side slope with the attendant possibility of one roller 10 being elevated slightly from the track, the other roller would accomplish the trippin Instead of spring 40 performing the dual function above desribcd, any energized means, such as a counterbalance weight on finger 41, may be employed for maintaining pawl 38 in neutral position while the anchoring of spring 40 may be dispensed with, said springthen merely functioning to slide pawl 38 longitudinally of rod 89.

Various other modifications and arrangement of parts within the scope of the present improvements as well as additional advantages thereof, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a boom, a carriage movable thereon, a rotatable member on said carriage, a bucket supported on said carriage, mechanism for discharging said bucket and oscillatable means responsive to movements of said member inoperable during advance carriage movement and operable by reverse carriage movement for actuating said mechanism.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a boom, traction means mounted thereon, a dischargeable bucket supported by said means, releasable mechanism for dischargingsaid bucket and means positively operated by said traction means for releasing said mechanism, the construction and arrangement being such that said second named means functions when said traction means travel in a direction opposite to load carrying travel.

3. In a concrete distributing apparatus the combination of a boom, a carriage having rollers mounted thereon, a dumping bucket supported by said carriage, energizable means for dumping said bucket and means energized by one of said rollers inoperable during advance movement and operable by reverse movement of said roller for energizing said energizable means at substantially allstages of said reverse movement.

4. The combination set forth in preceding claim 3 including means operable proximate the limit of reverse travel for restoring said energizable means to load-carrying position and rendering inoperative said energized means.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a boom, a carriage having rollers mounted for travel along same, a dumping bucket supported on said carriage, releasable mechanism for dumping said bucket, a cam on one of said rollers inoperable during advance movement and operable by reverse movement of said roller for releasing said mechanism.

6. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a boom, a carriage having rollers mounted on said boom for travel along same, a dumping bucket having a door, latch mechanism normally maintaining said door closed, a trip for said latch mechanism and a cam on one of said rollers for actuating said trip under predetermined conditions.

7 In a device of the character described, the combination of a boom, a carriage having wheels mounted on said boom for travel along same, a dumping bucket having a door, normally set toggle means for maintaining said door closed, means for throwing said toggle and a cam one one of said Wheels for actuating said means under predetermined conditions.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 including means for restoring said toggle means.

9. In a concrete distributing machine the combination of a mixer, a boom supported adjacent thereto, a carriage having rollers mounted for travel on said boom, a bucket having a door supported on said carriage, toggle mechanism normally maintaining said door closed, a trip mounted on said carriage for actuating said toggle, a plurality of spaced cams on one of said rollers inoperable during advance movement and operable by reverse movement of said roller for actuating said trip and means on said boom for resetting said toggle and disabling said trip upon substantial reverse travel of said carriage.

10. In a carriage adapted to travel along a lateral track, the combination of a frame, Wheels on said frame adapted to travel on said track, latch mechanism mounted on said frame for controlling the discharge of a load adapted to be supported by said carriage, a cam on one of said wheels and trip means on said frame having members aligned with said latch mechanism and said cam for transferring energy from the latter to the former, all so constructed and arranged that rotation of said Wheel in one direction will impart no energy to said latch mechanism and rotation in the opposite direction will actuate said latch mechanism.

Witness my hand this tenth day of February, 1928, at Dunellen, New Jersey, county of Middlesex, State of New Jersey.

JOSEPH C. LUKACHOVIC. 

